Dispensing device



Nov. 9, 1943. P. w. CUNNINGHAM 2,333,706

DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1941 wa ts-sheet 1 f -40 l 719 1 45 /J I I u l .INVENTOR. 1 622" Cunnmgkarn,

By R

ATTORNEY.

9,1943, P. w. CUNNINGHAM 2,333,706

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 6YIIIIIIIIIIf/IIIIII/ll/l rIIff4// 3 u i 4 A0 Zhwem/bo'z v P222:

NW, 9, 194 P. w. CUNNINGHAM DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. inghm, w W. W

BY PeZW Cmn Patented Nov.9,1943 s UNI-TED STATES AT CE.

2,333,706 DISPENSING- DEVICE Petewj iCunnin gham, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 22, 1941, Serial No. 411,819

v Claims. (01. s1-20) This invention'is a slicing and dispensing device; and since certain features of the invention are particularly applicable for slicing and dispensing thermo-plastic material such as butter, the invention is illustrated and described as a butter cutter and dispenser. T i v It is an object of the invention to heat the cutting element of the device for sharply defined slicing of thermo-plastic materialsuch as butter; and more particularly to electrically heat the cutting element, with the electrical circuit automatically closed at the start of each cycle of operation and then automatically broken at the end of each cycle,

It is another object of the invention to firmly hold the material during the slicing operation; and more particularly to provide cyclic operation whereby the material is shifted forwardly while the holding means is released, and the holding means is then automatically actuated during the slicing operation, and is then automatically released at the end of each cycle of operation.

It is another object of the invention to automatically open and then reclose the dispensing device during each cycle of operation; and more particularly to automatically retain the closure means in open position when the last slice of material has been dispensed, and then automatically reclose th sameresponsive to recharging the dispensing device. a

Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the dispensing device with its outer casing partlybroken away and showing start of a cycle of operation.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the dispensing'device with its outer casing partly broken away. 1

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary longitudinal sections through the dispensing devicerespectively showing start and midway of a cycle of operation.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the dispensing device with its outer" casing partly broken away.

Figs. 6, land 8 are transverse sections on the lines 6-6, 1-1 and 8-8 respectivelyof l ig, 3.

Fig.9 is awiring diagram'. a

The dispensing device comprises a butter receptacle and its associated slicing and dispensing mechanism, mounted in an out'er casing I. A transverse partition 2 divides the outer easing into a forward refrigerating compartment'3 which surrounds the butter receptacle, and a rear compartment 4 which contains the actuatingmechanism. A hinged closure -5 atthe front of the casing 1 provides for insertiona'nd removal of the butter receptacle, and an opening 6 in the closure 5 alines with a dispensing channel of the butter receptacle and has a hinged closure l which is automatically opened-and then-reclosed during each cycle of operation. a

The butter receptacle comprises a lease "lll'and upstanding side Walls 12'; Thebase is: slidably mounted in 'guideways ll of the compartment 3, and the sidewalls 12' define a channel for an elongate slab of butter. The slab of butter is moved forward at the start of each cycle of oper ation, for projection beyond the open front of the butter-receiving channel, ready. to have a slice'of butter cutofl. r 'j As an instance, a follower I3is slidable in the butter-receiving channelbelow guide rails Men the side walls l2, and is actuated step-by-"step by a pawl and ratchet I5+I6.., The ratchetisa series of teeth along a. bar. I'I which is suspended from links [8 so thatit extends along the butterreceiving. channel above. thG'i'fOllOWBl 13. The links are fixed to'shafts L9,, which are journaled in the side walls. I2 in spaced relation along the butter-receiving channel; and; a, spring 20 yieldably, retracts the link-suspended ratchet bar. The pawl I5 is mounted on thefollowerl3 and projects above the same andisyieldably projected to operative position as shown at 2l. The pawl and ratchet is medially. of the width of thebuttor-receiving channel and its cooperating follower l3, so that the follower is projected step by-step Without tendency to twistand bind the follower in the butter-receiving channel. 1

Acutter 2 2 is supportedlo y levers 23 which are pivoted to theiside' walls 12, and. arms 24" project upwardly from the rearends of: the-levers for swinging the 'same' so as to move the cutter downwardly across the open forwarde'nd of the butterreceiving channel. This swinging movement of the levers also shifts the ratchet bar ll against the tension of its spring 20;*jFor this purpose, cam arms 25 are fixedto thejfront shaftj'l9fand are engaged by rollers 26 on the levers 23; The cam arms include cam surfaces "2511 251 the surfaces 25a being arrangedso that responsive to engagement by the rollers 26 the link-suspended ratchet bar I! is shifted relative' to-t'he pawl l5, and the surfaces 2512 being" arranged so "that throughout their engagement; by the; rollers 26 the ratchet bar I1 is retained in the position to which it has been shifted.

Between cycles of operation (Figs. 1 and?) the levers 23 arein upwardly swungposition'so that the cutter 22 is spaced. above the slab" of butter in the dispensing device; an'd the -rollers 26 are in engagement with that portion of the cam arms 25 which permits the spring to shift the linksuspended ratchet bar I! upwardly and rearwardly' clear of the pawl l5. During each cycle of operation initial forward rocking of the arms 24 (for downwardly swinging the levers 23) moves the cutter 22 downwardly to position just above the slab of butter, and the rollers 26 are moved along the cam surfaces a so as to rock the shaft l9 from which the cam arms 25 are suspended, thereby swinging the link-suspended ratchet bar I'I downwardly and forwardly against the tension of its spring 20. As shown at Fig. 4, one of the teeth l6 thus engages the pawl l5 and moves the follower l3 forward, the distance of one slice of butter.

The slab of butter is thus projected beyond the open forward end of the butter-receiving channel, and during continued forward rocking of the arms 24 (for continuing downward swing of the levers'23) the rollers 26 are moved along, the cam surfaces 2512 so that the link-suspended ratchet bar I! remains in the position to which it has been shifted (thereby retaining the follower l3 and the slab of butter in forwardly projected position), and the cutter 22-is moved downwardly through the forwardly projected slab of butter for cutting off a slice. As shown at Fig. 6 the portion of the cutter whichextends across the butter-receiving channel is downwardly offset relative to the levers 23, so that. at terminal downstroke of the levers the cutter is below the butter-supporting surface of the base I0. The slice of butter which has been cut off is thus free for discharge via the opening 6,. the closure I having been automatically opened. as hereafter described.

Thev arms 24 are then reversely rocked (for reversely swinging the levers 23 to their original position) so as to complete the cycle of operation. During initial reverse swinging of the levers the cutter 22 is moved to position just above the slab of butter, and the rollers 26 move along. the cam surfaces 25b sothat-the ratchet bar I] is retained in the position to which it has been shifted, During terminal reverse swinging of the levers 23 the cutter 22' is elevated to its original position spaced above theslab of butter, and movement of the rollers 26 along the cam surfaces 25a permits the spring 20' to swing the ratchet bar H upwardly and rearwardly. During this retractive movement of the ratchet bar the pawl l5 yields so that the follower i3 remains inthe'position to which it has been projected; and the parts are thus in position for repeating the cycle of operation, 1. e., for engaging the pawl [5 by the next forward tooth of the ratchet bar H, for again projecting the follower I3 and cutting off the next slice of butter.

During each cycle of operation, the slab of butter is initially free for projection by the follower l3, and is then held in projected position while the cutter 22 cuts off a slice, and is then released preparatory to repeating the. cycle of operation.

The holding means preferably providesa. springurged clamping engagement. 7

As an instance, a holder 29 is pivoted between the side rails l4, at their forward endsand just in rear of the pathof the cutter 22. A link 30 has a lost-motion connection 3|. withv the holder, with aspring 32 urging depression of theholder relative to the link. The link 30 is actuated by a bar 33 which is slidably mountedon theshafts 19 by means of. slotted guideways 34; and the-bar 33 is engaged by a cross-pin 35 which connects the arms 24 of the levers 23.

Between cycles of operation the bar 33 is retracted by the rearwardly rocked arms 24 (Figs. 1 and 3), thereby elevating the holder 29 clear of the slab of butter in the dispensing device. During initial forward rocking of the arms 24 (for forwardly projecting the follower I3), the bar 33 is shifted so as to depress the holder 29; and by the time the follower I 3 has completed its forward projection the holder is in position for contact with the upper surface of the slab of butter. During continued forward rocking of the arms 24 (for cutting off a slice of butter), the lost-motion connection 3| permits floating of the holder, 29, with its spring 32 yieldably urging depression of the holder 50 as to clamp the slab of butter against the base I0 and thus hold the same during the cutting operation (Fig. 4). During return stroke of the arms 24 (for completing the cycle of operation), the bar 33 is retracted so that the link'30 elevates the holder clear of the slab of butter (Fig. 3), ready for repeating the cycle of operation.

The cutter 22 is heated to insures, clean out. For this purpose an electrical circuit is completed through the cutter for heating the same. The circuit is preferably automatically closed during each cycleof operation, and automatically broken when the dispensing device is not inoperation.

As aninstance, the ends of the cutter are electrically connected to conductor bars 35a, which extend along the levers 23 and are electrically insulated from one another; and adjacent the pivotedends of the levers the conductorbars are electrically connected to contacts 36, which are mounted on the base It) and are electrically insulated from one another. The connections between the'bars 35a and the contacts 36 are shown as wires 31, which permit the necessary play for swinging movement of the levers 23 relative to the stationary contacts 36. When the butter dispensing device is inserted in the casing I the contacts 36 engage cooperating spring-projected contacts 38', which are mounted in the partition 2 and areelectrically insulated from one another; 'andthecontacts 38' are in circuit with switch mechanism (hereafter-described), which closes an electrical circuit for the cutter, but only while the dispensing device is inoperation.

The actuating mechanism for rocking the arms 24 is showrras a rod 40,"adapted' for reciprocation in the partition2. A yoke 4| is swiveled on the rod and is yieldably spring-projected as shownat 42', toposition adaptedto engage a cross-pin 43, which connects the upper ends of the arms 24. A shaft 44 ismanually actuated as shownat 45 and has'a transversely projecting finger 46:. When the'dispensing device is to'be inserted inthe casing l, the shaft 44 is manually rocked so that its fingerji swings the yoke 4| against the tension of its spring 42-, thereby'permitting insertion of the dispensing device-ready for operation, with its arms-24 retractedto their limit of'movement. g

As shown at Fig. 5 the shaft 44 islthen manually rocked so asto disengage its fingerfron'i the yoke 41-,- which; ls-thusspring-projectd so as to straddle the cross-pin 43 Iteciprocation of the rod then rocks the arms 24 for causing the cyclic operation previously -described; and when the-dispensing device, is to be removed; from the casing I for cleaning, etc'.-,-;the-'shaft 44- is again .manually rocked so as! t c-disengage the yoke 4i fromthe cross-:pin 43;,

The means for reciprocating the rod-4U is shown in the present instance. as an electrical actuating mechanism. For example, an electric motor 48 is mounted in the compartment 4 and has a crank connection 49 with the rod 40 for reciprocating the latter. Suitable gearing .(not shown) is provided in the housing of the motor 48, for reducing the speed of the crank'49 and preventing it continuing to rotate by its inertia after the circuitfor the motorhas been broken. A manualcontrol 50, accessible from thefront of the casing I, preferably controls operation of the motor 48 and also controls'the electrical heating circuit for'the cutter 22. .The control is preferably arranged so that manual actuation inaugurates the cycle of operation, which then continues to completion and then automatically stops, whether or.not the manualcontrol has been released.

As an instance, the electrical circuit (Fig. 9) includes parallel circuits Bll-8l which are in series with parallel circuits 82-.83. Switches. 5! and 52 areprovided between the main circuit and the respective ends of the parallel circuits 8ll8l, and the motor 48 and the electrically resistant cutter 22 are in the parallel circuits 'neutralposition; and thenext swinging movement of the switch lever snaps it contact blade to its other contact position, where it remains while the switch lever returns to neutral position.

The switch lever,,52a is shifted by the crank connection 49, so that preparatory to each cycle of operation it will have been swung from its neutral position, thereby snapping its switch blade to one or the other of its; contact positions. Midway of each cycle of operation the cyclic move ment of the crank connection will have permitted the switch lever to return to neutral position (as shown by broken lines at Fig. 2), and at the end of each cycle of operation the crank connection will have again swung the switch lever from its neutral position, thereby snapping its switch blade to its other contact position.

The switch lever 5 la is connected to the manual control 50 by linkage 53. When the control is manually actuated the switch lever is thus swung from its neutral position, thereby snapping its switch blade to one or the other of its contact positions. As soon as the manual control is released the switch lever is spring retracted to neutral position, and when the control is next manually actuated the switch lever is again swung from its neutral position, thereby snapping its switch blade to its other contact position.

Preparatory to each cycle of operation, the blade of switch 5| will be making contact with one of the parallel circuits 8[|--8l, and the blade of switch 52 will be making contact with the other of said circuits. The main circuit is thus broken so that the motor 48 and the heating circuit for the cutter 22 are deenergized. To cause a cycle of operation, the control 50 is manually actuated, thereby causing the switch 5| to snap controlled. by a lever 56. on the closure 5 and has arms 56a projecting into over. to its'other'contact and thus closing the main circuit Via one. or the other of the parallel circuits -81.. The motor 48 and the heating circuit forthe cutter 22 are thus energized, so thatthe butter cutting anddispensing device operates as previously described. At the end of the cycle of operation, the crank connection 49 .causes. the switch 52 to snap over to its other contact, thereby breaking the main circuit and thus deenergizing the motor 48 and the heating cir cuitfor the cutter 22. Operation of the device thus stops, ready for repeating the cyclic opera- .tion whenever the manual control 59 is again actuated. l

The door I for the opening Sis mounted on a spring hinge 55 which tends to swing the door downwardly to closed position; and the door is This lever is pivoted the path of rollers 51 which are mounted on .the levers 23. The door I is closed between cycles of operation, with the arms 55a below the rollers 51 (Figsl and, 3). During downward swing of the levers 23 (for forwardly projecting the slab of butter and cutting off a slice) the rollers 51 engage the arms 56a and swing the door 1 to open position (Fig. 4) for discharging the slice of butter; and during return swing of the levers 23 (for .completingthe cycle of operation) the rollers 5! permit return swing of the arms 56a. so that the "door I is spring-returned to closed position.

During that cycle of operation which discharges the last slice of the slab of butter, the door 1 is swung open as above described, but :instead of then returning to closed position it is automati- -cally retained in open position. A new slab of the path of'travel of the roller 58. The catch is actuated by a link 68, which is engaged by the forward end of a bar 6| which extends along one of the side walls l2 and is pivoted thereto as shown at 62. A lever 63 is pivoted to this side wall, and has a roller 64a at its upper end engaging the underside of the bar 6|. The lever 63 is shifted by a bar 64 which slides on one of the guide rails 14 and which has abutment pins 65-56 projecting from its front and rear ends respectively. A finger 61 projectsupwardly from the follower l3 and cooperates with the pins 65-66 for shifting the bar 64 so as to swing the lever 63.

When a slab of butter is inserted in the dispensing device it retracts the follower l3 to its rear limit of movement, thereby engaging the pin 66 by the finger 61 and thus retracting the bar 64. As shown at Fig. 4, this movement of the bar 64 shifts the lever 63 so that its roller 64a engages a surface 10 of the bar 6 I, thereby elevating and retaining the bar in elevated position, and thus elevating the link 50 against the tension of a spring 1| so as to depress the catch 59 to inoperative position, clear of the path of travel of the roller 58. The parts remain in this position during successive cyclic operations of the dispensing device, so that the catch 59 is retlined in inoperative position and the door 1 is opened and then recloses during each cycle 'of "operation, as previously described.

At the start "of that cycle of operation which forwardly vprojects the follower l=3 so as tourspense the last slice 'of a slab of butter, the forward end of the 'finger 67 engages the pin 65 and thusshifts the bar 64 forwardly on its rail M. This swings the lever 63 so that its roller 61a alines with a. depression 72 in the bar '61, and the bar BI and the link 60 are thus depressed by the spring 1 I, so thatth'e catch 59 is shifted'to operativeposition in the path of travel of the roller '58. When the door 1 is swung open (during the cycle of operation which dispenses the last slice "of a slain of butter) the roller '58 thus engages and 'nepre'sses the catch 59 against the tension of its spring H, so that the roller may move past the catch to position in which the door I is at its limit of opening movement, 'a'nd'the spring 'H then retums the catch to operative position (Fig. 4) so as to form ah abutment for engagement by the roner $8, -for prevez'r'ting reclosing or the "door I.

A new slab of butter may thus 'be readily inserted-in the dispensing dev-ica'thereby retracting th'e follower 13 so that-its finger 6! engages the pin 615 for again elevating the bar 15-1 and thus c lep'res'sing the catchiil to inoperative position. The roller 58 is'thus released, so that the door -1 is spring-returned to closed position, ready for 'steh by-step slicing and dispensir-rg 'of the new slab of butter.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing device, a receptacle having an outlet and adapted for reception of-thermoplastic'iiiate'rial, a follower for iproje'cting the materi'al step-by-ste beyond the outlet -'during each c'ycle of operation, a cutter for slicing 'a projecting portion of the material 'durihg'each'cycleof ope-ration, the cutter being of electrical resistant material and included -'in 'an electrical circuit for heating -the cutter, means included in an electrio'al circuit-for ca-using cyclic operationof the :follower and c utter, and a control for closing the electrical circuits for inaixg'urati'ngeach cycle of operation and heating the cutter, and for automatically opening the.-'e1(ctrica;l circuits tor terminating each cycle of operation and discontinuing heating of the cutter.

2. In a dispensing device, a receptacle having an outlet, means for projecting material step-bystep beyond the outlet, a cutter for slicing a pro- ..iecting portion or the material, means for clamping the material in the receptacle, means forsuC- cessiir'ely actuating the projecting means and the cutter, and a connection operated by the actuatir'rg means for releasing the clamping'means during projection of the material and actuating the clamping-means while the material is projected and during 'operationcf the cutter.

3. In a dispensing device, a receptacle having an outlet, means tor projecting material step-11ystep beyond the outlet, 'a cutter :for slicing "a provjecti-ng portion of the material, means for clamp- "mg the material in the receptacle, means :for successively actuating the projecting means and the cutter, and 'a, lost-motion spring-urged "connection operated by the actuating means for .releasing the clamping means during projection of the material and y iel'dably urging clamping engagement during operation :of the cutter.

4. In a dispensing device, a receptacle having an outlet, means for projecting material steph'y-sitep beyond the outlet, a cutter for slicing a projecting portion of the material, a closure for the =outlt, means for opening and then permitting 'reclosing the closure during each of successivestep-by step projections and slicing of mate'- rial, and means actuated responsive to projection of the last portion of the material Jfor .=retaining the closure in *open position.

5. In a nispensing device, a receptacle having butlet, me'ans for projecting m'ateriial step-bystep be ond the outlet, a cutter for slicing a projectin portion of the material, a closure tor the oiitlet, means 'fo'r Opening and then permitting re'cl'osing the closure during each :of the successf-ve step-by-ste projections and slieingof matei i'al, m'eans actuated responsive to projection of the last :lriortion -o'f the material'ior retaining the "closure in open 'position, and means actuated responsive'to resupplyingthereceptaclewith material for :re're'asing the retaining Imeans :so as to permit reolosing of the closure.

EETE W. CUNNINGHAM. 

